IN BRIEF / TRANSPORTATION

U.S., Vietnam Sign Air-Services Pact

Vietnam and the United States initialed the countries' first air-services agreement today in Hanoi, taking a further step toward direct passenger and cargo flights between the two nations.

Once approved by the countries' governments, the five-year accord will allow two U.S. passenger carriers to operate to Vietnam for the first two years, with a third to be added after three years, said Laura Faux-Gable, head of the U.S. negotiating team.

The number of cargo carriers will be unrestricted, said Steven Okun, Asia-Pacific vice president of public affairs for United Parcel Service Inc.